What should your loved one bring to Assisted Living?
Moving into assisted living can cause uncertainty for you and for your loved one, especially right now, but by being prepared, you can turn the moment into one of excitement as you start on this new adventure together. To help make the transition easier, we recommend bringing:
An open mind
As can be expected, there is an adjustment period when seniors leave their home to move into an Assisted Living community. By focusing on the positive, instead of feeling trepidation, you can feel happiness and excitement. It’s not easy to leave a home you have lived in for decades, your neighborhood, the comfortable patterns you are used to. But, the benefits of keeping that independence while not having to do laundry, cooking or cleaning, and having the chance to enjoy interesting activities can present a new and exhilarating opportunity.
Your personal touch
Make it your own! When seniors bring in their own furnishings and make their new home feel familiar, the transition is much easier because right away their new space can feel a little more like home. Have your loved one bring pictures of family to hang on the walls, their personal bath towels, shampoo, soap, even their own bed sheets and blankets that smell like home. A family member of a resident tells us her mother felt much better about the experience the first week in her new apartment because she had her own furniture and could decorate in her own special way. She expressed surprise at how quickly her mom was able to adjust and attributed it to her having her own things with her from the beginning.
Your favorite pastime
If your loved one enjoys a hobby like painting, crocheting, or maybe knitting, bring those as well. It’s important for residents to keep doing the things they love and keep busy as they adjust to their new home and find new routines and activities to explore. Take it one step at a time. Doing something comfortable that is part of a consistent pattern can really help with the adjustment to a new place and eventually lead to excitement about trying new activities and hobbies offered by the community.
Furry friends
Pets are family, which is why it is so important that residents know they can bring their furry friends with them. Not all Assisted Living facilities allow pets, but the benefits of having an animal companion are innumerable. Pets provide exercise and engagement and provide seniors with a feeling of being needed, which can translate into a greater sense of purpose and self-worth. Nothing says home like having your fur baby with you.
With these four things in tow, you are ready to get started on your journey. All of this to say, there are lots of amazing things to come—new friends, fun activities, delicious food, and a loving, thoughtful, and caring staff waiting to make your day-to-day life great! We can’t wait to see you.
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